Multiple automatic distance adjusting gel punch



w. FARRIS 3,482,311

MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC DISTANQE ADJUSTINGGEL PUNCH Dec. 9, 1969 Filed Sept. 12, 1967 WAL TE? FARR/S 1N VENTOR.

ATTOP/VEY United States Patent 3,482,311 MULTIPLE AUTOMATIC DISTANCE ADJUSTING GEL PUNCH Walter Farris, 1541 Pingree St., Detroit, Mich. 48206 Filed Sept. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 667,239 Int. Cl. B261? N00 US. Cl. 30-358 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a multiple, automatic distance adjusting agar gel punch, which is intended for use in agar gel precipitation analyses. The invention resides in the provision of a pair of calibrated disks, each rotatable about a common axis. Each disk has a plurality of arcuate radial slots therein and a plurality of gelatin punches mounted for relative movement in said slots, whereby upon rotation of one disk with respect to the other the distances between punches are automatically and evenly changed. The device has means to lock the disks against relative rotational movement and means to exhaust air trapped in said punches.

This invention relates to tools for use in agar gel precipitation anaylses and has particular reference to a multiple agar gel punch, which is constructed and arranged so that the distances between the several punches may simultaneously be automatically changed, whereby the user may get a variety of patterns.

The technique of antigen-antibody precipitation in agar gel is well known to those working in medical and scieitific research. Various tools have heretofore been devised for practicing the technique. These tools are known by various names as punches, cutters, molds, etc., but they all serve the purpose of making cavities or wells in the agar gel for the insertion therein of the antigen-antibody media. The agar gel is first placed in a heavy walled glass petri dish and when sufiiciently firm the tools are used to make the cavities or wells therein. Punches or cutters heretofore known to the public have been of various patterns. Some are round and some are square in cross section and oftentimes multiple punches are fixedly arranged in permanent relation on a common carrier. In such practice it becomes necessary for the practitioner to have a great number of different tools, to effect dilferent patterns. This is very expensive. The punches of the tools now known to the public are not adjustable with respect to each other and the carriers, so that each separate tool has a fixed pattern.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to generally improve devices of the character indicated and to provide a single tool which is provided with a multiplicity of punches or cutters, which are centrifugally and centripetally adjustable with respect to the center of the carrier, whereby the spacing between the punches or cutters and the arrangement of the punches or cutters may be varied greatly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character indicated, which is constructed with a pair of disks and arranged so that automatic adjustment of the distances between the punches or cutters and the pattern may be effected by the simple expedient of rotating one of the disks with respect to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged with a pair of matched disks, one of which is basically a carrier and the other a guide for the plurality of punches or cutters employed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is constructed primarily of a pair of disks, which are rotatable about a common 'ice axis, with means to lock said disks in various positions of rotation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged with a pair of concentric, rotatable disks, there being a first punch mounted at the axis of said disks and a plurality of other punches mounted for centrifugal and centripetal movement with respect to said first punch.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates the punches in position of maximum adjustment.

FIG. '3 is a bottom perspective of the device shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates the punches in position of minimum adjustment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, illustrating the relation of the arcuate radial slots in the upper and lower disks shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be understood that in the within disclosure, the reference character 7 indicates the upper disk and the reference character 8 indicates the lower disk, both of which are rotatable around a central axis 9. The disk 8 is calibrated, as at 10, along its periphery, which calibrations are arranged to synchronize with the mark 11 formed on the periphery of the disk 7, so that various degrees of rotation may be measured between the disks 7 and 8.

When the disks 7 and 8 are in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the disks are at the minimum degree of rotation, and when the disks 7 and 8 are in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the disks are in their maximum degree of rotation.

Each disk 7 and 8 is provided with a plurality of arcuate, radial slots. The slots in the disk 7, being indicated by the reference characters 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and 13B. The slots in both the disks 7 and 8 are of the same size, in length and degree of curvature, but in assembling the disks 7 and 8, as shown in the drawing, the disk 7 is inverted so that the slots 12 and 13 will appear as shown in FIG. 5, in which position the axial closed ends of the slots 12 and 13 will be in concentric alignment.

It will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the slots 13-13E are provided at their ends removed from the axis, with enlarged bores 14, which bores 14 are of suffcient diameter to receive a head 15 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), which heads comprise part of the several punches, as hereinafter explained.

A typical punch is illustrated in FIG. 4. A typical punch is preferably machined from a length of rod stock and is bored, as at 16, to form a hollow cylindrical punch or cutter element 17, and is machined to form head portions 15 and 15B, between which is a reduced portion 18 which is received in the slot 13 of the disk 8. This structure serves as a mounting means and a means for retaining the punches 17 in the slots 13-13A of the plate 8.

Each punch 17 is provided at its upper end with a reduced section 19 which is received in the slot 12 of the disk 7 and serves as a guide pin for its punch or cutter.

Although I have herein described only one of the adjustable punches, it will be understood that each of the adjustable punches shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, has such a 3 guide pin 19, arranged to travel in the slots 12-12iE (FIG. 1). The guide pins 19 also limit the degree of relative rotation between the disks 7 and 8.

In addition to the adjustable punches or cutters 17 (FIGS. 2 and 3) I provide a centrally positioned cutter 20 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 6) which is normally stationary and is provided with a threaded extension 21, which extension 21 serves as the axis of rotation for the disks 7 and 8. Positioned on top ofthe disk 8 and beneath the disk 7 is a nut 22 which serves as a spacer between the disks 7 and 8. On the free end of the threaded extension 21 is received a knurled nut 23 (FIGS. 1 and 6) which upon rotation exerts pressure on the disks 7 and 8 to lock the disks against rotation.

At the time of assembling the device the disk 7 is removed from the disk 8 so that the head of each cutter 17 may be extended through an enlarged bore 14 positioned at the end of each of the slots 13-13E of the disk 8. The cutters are then moved toward the center of the disk 8 where they will assume the positions shown in FIG. 3. The disk 7 is then positioned on top of the disk 8, so that the threaded element 21 is extended through the bore 7A of the disk 7.

In assembling disk 7 on the disk 8, the punches or cutters 17 will all be in the position shown in FIG. 3, in which position the reduced guide members 19 of each cutter will be received in one of the slots 12-12E of the disk 7. The knurled nut 23 is then inserted on the threaded extension 21 (FIG. 6) and rotated to the right until the disks 7 and 8 are locked against relative rotation. By turning the knurled nut 23 to the left, the disks are unlocked and may be rotated relative to each other.

When the disks 7 and 8 are rotated relative to each other to the maximum degree of rotation the punches or cutters 17 will be in the position shown in FIG. 2, and when the disks 7 and 8 are rotated in the opposite direction, the punches or cutters 17 will be in the position shown in FIG. 3.

It will be understood that the disk 8 serves as the carrier for the cutters and the disk 7, through the cooperation of the elements 19 and the slots 12-12E, serves as a guide for the movement of the cutters 17.

With this construction the cutters 17 may be spaced from each other the maximum distance, as shown in FIG. 2, and the minimum distance, as shown in FIG. 3, and a multiplicity of positions in between, so that with this device various spacings and patterns of the cutters or punches may be effected.

In using the tool in the technique for which it is intended, the agar gel 25 (FIG. 4) is first positioned in the petri dish 26 and allowed to become firm, after which 4 the punches or cutters 17 may beinserted in the gel, as shown in FIG. 4, by using the knurled nut 23 (FIG. 1) as a handle for the tool.

In order to allow air to escape between the agar gel 25 and the top of the cutters 17, I provide relief ports 27 (FIGS. 2 and 4) so that any air which may be trapped in the punch or cutter may be released.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of disks rotatable about a common axis, a plurality of arcuate, radial slots in each disk, a gel punch mounted in each of the slots of one disk and received in a matching slot of the second disk, said punches being arranged for centrifugal and centripetal movement upon the rotation of one disk relative to the other, there being an additional punch mounted at the axis of said disks, said last named punch having a threaded element extending through said disks, there being at least one nut received on said threaded element.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which there is a spacer positioned between said disks, and the punch mounted at the axis of said disks, has a threaded element extending through said disks and said spacer, and a knurled nut received at the end of said threaded element and arranged to exert pressure on said disks.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which the slots in said disks are of the same size and shape but inverted, and the slots in said one disk terminate in enlarged bores of sufficient diameter to receive and discharge said punches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1921 Boyd 30--8 7/1942 McCain 30301 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner J. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 30316; 83-621; 19s -127 

